Triathlon - Questions about purchasing first tri-bike

So with my first marathon down in January, I have decided to join a running buddy and do my first tri (I'll be doing sprint distance at teh same race he's doing half iron-man distance).

Its months away, but I am beginning to seriuosly consider bikes so I can start training right after the marathon is done.

I live in Houston and know there are quite a few bike stores, but everywhere seems to have prices starting at over $1000. My problem: I am a poor poor law student. =)

SO, if anyone could give me some advice, suggestions, etc on either starting from scratch and piecing a biek together myself, or getting a package, which I could find affordably, taht would be super!

Keep in mind, I know nothing. NOTHING. Of course I plan on learning, but right now, between work and school and teams and journals, yadda yadda, there is no time for studying how a bike works. :)

ALL info is welcome and appreciate. ANd if anyone out there is from Houston and has a small training group that lives in the city.....I'm down to know more about that too!

If you don't have a road bike I would start there and get aero clip on bars. You can go to one of the afore ention Houston bike shops (Webster Cycles is my favorite) and either look for a used roadie or check ebay and craigslist for a used bike. There are great deals to be had on models only a few yeas old. Once your law practice is thriving you get whatever you want!!!

for less than $1000, your best bet is to get an affordable road bike...maybe a used bike...and just clip on aero bars for the triathlon.

Its hard to find anything on craigslist in my size. I'm 5'1". =) It doesn't seem like many places carry small enough frames for me.

Its hard to find anything on craigslist in my size. I'm 5'1". =) It doesn't seem like many places carry small enough frames for me.

ebay usually has bikes small enough for you. If not always, regularly.

my girlfriend's your size. she gave up on finding a used bike that would fit her and bought the cheapest bike available at bikesdirect.com. it was sloppily put together, but by far the best hardware available for the money. I think "chicabikes" and somebody else also sell bikesdirect bikes on ebay (they're related to BD somehow?), with sometimes cheaper prices.

For your second tri you might consider getting a seatpost that moves the seat forward (profile design is the most popular), emulating a tri bike's geometry. slowtwitch.com has a good bike fit section for DIY.